Godly Principles and The Fruits of the Spirit

Rom 5:5
5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love
into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. NIV

With our passion for God ignited, and armed with the gifts God has given us to live
victorious spiritual lives, our next step is to grow our spiritual lives toward the continual
pursuit of being like Jesus.

The Spirit Within Us

When we became Christians we received the gift of the forgiveness of our sin; yet, we are
still in need of transformation. This is because there is a great disparity between our
faith, understanding, trust and wisdom, and that belonging to Jesus.

It would have been nice of God to provide us with all of these things at the time of our
decision to follow Him; yet, God decided it was sufficient enough to provide us with His
Holy Spirit to produce in us the changes that we need - during the period of time that we
have while we live on the earth.

God has given us His Holy Spirit to be able to work internally in our hearts to develop
certain fruits of his character that do not come naturally to us:

Gal 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things
there is no law. NIV

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
are all descriptions of who God is, and by giving us of His Spirit - it makes sense that the
Spirit will produce these fruits in us as well.

Our Part In This Story

Yet, the Spirit of God, though powerful, will not overpower us and force us to become
these things against our own will. It is together with our decision to pursue these
qualities that God's Spirit effects these changes; yet only if we are willing.

As the Bible says:

Rom 8:14
14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.NIV

Gal 5:25
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit .NIV
Eph 4:30
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for
the day of redemption. NIV

These scriptures do show that the decisions that we make have an influence on the work
of the Spirit in our lives. Therefore, our lives must be focused on growing in all of the
fruits of the Spirit, which means the pursuit of a life that is more loving, patient, joyful,
kind, gentle, etc.

We also need to pray for God to effect these changes in our lives as often as possible, as
well as, expose ourselves to scriptures that show us the faithful examples of the men and
women who had the Spirit - especially Jesus.

Though our efforts will not create the change, our willingness will facilitate the Spirit’s
work in our lives to transform us into the likeness of Christ:

2 Cor 3:17-18
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from
the Lord, who is the Spirit. NIV

We Sometimes Fall Short

Where we fall short, the Spirit will take up the slack and align our desire for change with
God’s will. This creates a supernatural transformation in our lives:

Rom 8:26-27
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know
what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with
groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts
knows the mind of the Spirit , because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in
accordance with God's will. NIV

As the Spirit intercedes to God for us in prayer, it is our responsibility to align our
decisions and actions in line with that of His Holy Spirit - by pursuing a life of true
righteousness and holiness:

Rom 8:5-6
…but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on
what the Spirit desires. NIV

…Ridding ourselves of all things that go against God’s purpose for our lives:

Rom 8:13-14
13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the
Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, NIV
…And, pursuing a life motivated by the purpose of pleasing the Spirit of God:

Gal 6:7-8
8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap
destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap
eternal life. NIV

Therefore, with the help of God’s Spirit to help us in our daily pursuit of a holy life, we
cannot fail in our desire to live a life that is pleasing to God - and one that will end in our
eternal salvation. Where we fall short, the Spirit prays for us; where we fight to stay
righteous, the Spirit will give us the power to overcome.

Again, with God’s help there is no defeating us, as the Bible says:

Prov 21:30
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the LORD. NIV

In conclusion, we need to keep in step with the Spirit by pursuing the godly qualities
that describe God in all of His righteousness and holiness.

Only then can we truly have an internal victory, establishing a foundation of true godly
conviction, which will effect a true spiritual transformation in our lives; setting the
battlefield to our advantage, and leading us to the glory of God - which we, as Christ’s
ambassadors, so desperately and passionately desire, deep within our hearts.

Question for reflection:

What resources can you utilize to help you keep in step with the changes the Holy Spirit
is trying to make in your life?

Decision:

I will live a life devoted to keeping in step with God’s Holy Spirit, by pursuing the fruits
of the Spirit in my daily life.

Scripture memory:

Gal 5:25
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. NIV

Practice:

I will set my mind on what God’s Holy Spirit desires, and strive to live the fruits of the
Spirit in every circumstance I face today.